Mala Pata Molino + Cocina

Kelly Propst a month ago

I enjoyed a group birthday dinner for a close friend at Mala Pasta Molino + Cocina, and everything we had was incredibly delicious and perfectly plated. In addition to the creative flavors, I loved how every dish had the perfect combination of textures, colors and temperature to entice all of your senses. We shared plates and the standouts were the Pepita Salad, Aguachile Verde, Pasillo de Humo and you MUST share an order of the Colombian Bunelos. Cocktails were fresh, tasty and fun. Service was amazing with each course expertly timed, and the owner and staff were warm, welcoming and attentive. The Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition is so well-deserved. Safe to say this is a new favorite restaurant in Raleigh!

Sabari Prasad Kannan 2 months ago

Mala Pata is a very happening and vibrant place with a great vibe. The crowd was nice, and the food came quickly. The drinks were pretty decent, and the food was fresh and unique. It’s a great spot to hang out with friends and family, relax, and have good conversations. They offer both indoor and patio seating, and even provide heaters outside, making it comfortable in all weather. Overall, a great place to chill and enjoy good food and vibes. There are also other places nearby to try; this complex is really cool, and there’s plenty of parking available.

Charlie Byrne 4 months ago

I’ve really enjoyed my first experiences at Mala Pata in Raleigh, recently awarded a Michelin “Bib Gourmand” designation. Their tagline proclaims “Bold Latin American flavors crafted with North Carolina heart”… and after two visits I couldn’t agree more. With fresh masa made daily from heirloom Oaxacan corn, you’ll get exceptional chips, tostadas, and blue and white tortillas as the base of many dishes. Of course that’s just the start… I first heard about nixtamalization, where corn is converted into masa, living down in South Florida circa 2015. My Miami food-obsessed friends @Frodnesor and @ericsaltz kept raving about Steve Santana’s @slicedicecode new taco stand, Taquiza, and the great stuff @taquizatacos was turning out. Despite living 40 miles north, I became a regular. And now, living in NC, I’m so glad to discover Mala Pata in Raleigh is similarly upping the bar on Mexican dining. Dishes I’ve enjoyed include (see photos)… Rajas Enchiladas - Fire-Roasted Poblanos, Queso Cotija, Cheerwine Mole, Pickled Onions, Sesame, Crema, White Corn Tortillas Aguachile Verde - NC Shrimp, Serrano, Cucumber, Shrimp Head Oil, Radish, Avocado, Corn Nuts, Cilantro, Tostadas Pepita Salad - Lettuces, Parsley, Radish, Herb Crema, Piloncillo Pepitas, Cotija Añejo Fresh Guacamole - With Marinated Tomatoes, Cotija Cheese, Pickled Onions, Pepitas, and Cilantro, served with House-Made Corn Chips. Relleno-Battered NC Catch of the Day on fresh Blue Corn Tortillas topped with Sofrito Aioli, Mango Curtido, and Pickled Onions Fuego Margarita - Serrano-Infused Blanco Tequila, Pineapple, Lime, Cilantro, Orange Liqueur The restaurant is spotless, with very cool décor - perfect lighting and sound levels. The service was wonderful, right from the start at the hostess stand. I made a seating request in my resy and they noticed it (oddly rare)! I’ll be back ASAP to try the entire menu. Suggest local food lovers do the same! Congrats to Mala Pata, from industry vets Angela Salamanca, Marshall Davis, Eric Montagne, Zack Gragg, and Justin Pasfield.

Catherine Kramer 6 months ago

What a fantastic experience!!! My boyfriend and I recently moved to the area and have been looking for our next favorite and this might just take the cake. Our server recommended we get multiple small plates to share, which was a great call. We got the guacamole, aguachile, fish tacos, lechoncito tacos (which were our favorite), and of course the tres leches cake. Everyone was incredibly kind and the atmosphere was so cool. I will be coming back soon to try the other half of the menu.

Shanah Bell 8 months ago

My husband and I finally made it out to check out this newer restaurant in the area. He had been wanting to try it, but I was concerned that they would have nothing for me since I had Celiac and am Vegan and they seem to definitely have a meat and cheese heavy menu. I asked the server as soon as we sat down if they had anything that could accommodate me because there was nothing glaringly obvious on the menu that would suffice. She was very helpful and said that they do typically keep a grilled pineapple taco as an option for people who are vegan and that the guacamole appetizer could be made with the cheese on the side or without the cheese. So those were the only two options that I had, which was better than nothing. As a side note, they make all of their tortillas in house and are probably the best tortillas I've eaten to date. So those alone may be worth the trip! I have to say the food was pretty good and the the margarita on the rocks with salt was spot on! Not only delicious, but the glassware was fantastic! The service and atmosphere was great, but the pricing is a bit on the higher side for me for the vegan food that I got. Ultimately, if you eat meat, this is probably a great place to check out. As a vegan though, definitely not top of my list unless they can start diversifying more to reduce the amount of cheese in all the dishes and/or offer some meat alternatives (mushrooms and nopales are great options).